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For the first time in at least 25 years, puffins have been observed returning to the Isle of Muck, a small island located off the Antrim coast near Islandmagee in County Antrim. This positive development follows a significant conservation effort aimed at eradicating invasive brown rats from the island. Since Ulster Wildlife assumed management of the seabird sanctuary on the Isle of Muck a quarter of a century ago, these charming seabirds had not been recorded there. The rat removal programme began in 2017 and has been complemented by winter grazing practices designed to keep the island’s vegetation low, thereby reducing potential hiding spots for predators.
In 2024, five puffins were seen on the island, providing a hopeful indication of their return. Furthermore, springtime camera footage captured two puffins frequenting a nesting burrow located on cliff ledges, displaying behaviours such as carrying food back to the nest, which suggests breeding activity. Andy Crory, nature reserves manager for Ulster Wildlife, remarked that while stories of puffins breeding on the Isle of Muck once seemed like folklore, these recent observations demonstrate that restoration efforts are bearing fruit. Highlighting the broader challenges seabirds face globally, he stated, “Seabirds face immense challenges globally, with 24 of the 25 breeding species at risk of local or global extinction. So, while a handful of puffins on a tiny island may seem small, this moment is huge – it proves that seabird restoration works.”
The puffin sightings add to a series of encouraging signs about the positive impact of conservation management on the island. Annual surveys indicate rising numbers of other seabirds, including eider ducks, guillemots, herring gulls, and lesser black-backed gulls. Despite this progress, it remains uncertain whether the puffins spotted this year successfully raised any chicks. Nevertheless, Crory remains optimistic about the future, expressing hope that the Isle of Muck will not only become a safe haven for puffins but also attract other once-lost species, such as the Manx shearwater. He anticipates with excitement the potential arrival of “pufflings,” or baby puffins, on the island’s cliffs next summer, describing this prospect as “the icing on the cake.”
Puffins are considered a priority species in Northern Ireland and are listed as red-listed in the UK, indicating the highest level of conservation concern due to threats like food scarcity, climate change, and predation by non-native species. Spending the majority of their lives at sea, puffins return to land during the breeding season to mate at the same nesting sites annually. Each pair raises one chick per season. Ulster Wildlife emphasizes that invasive rats pose a significant danger to seabirds on many UK islands by preying on eggs and young chicks. The Isle of Muck is currently closed to the public, a measure hoped to provide a safe environment that will support the continued return and breeding success of puffins in the coming years
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